FRIENDSHIP BANGLADESH

We work in partnership with individuals, communities, organisations and the government to create lasting solutions to the challenges faced by the poor and marginalized communities in Bangladesh.

About us

Over the last 15 years, Friendship has grown from being a distant dream to an organisation delivering vital services to 4.2 million people in the most marginalized communities of Bangladesh. Our work wouldn’t be possible if not for the 1,600 people dedicated to helping those in need.

Also crucial to our organisation is Friendship International. Formed over the years by a passionate group of people from Luxembourg, France, the UK and the Netherlands, Friendship International helps us foster partnerships, mobilise funds, gain expertise and raise awareness of our unique methodologies. More than partners, this group believes in the core values, ethics and work of Friendship. Together we are building a solid organisation that makes real changes to communities outside the economic mainstream, whilst retaining the dignity of the people who live within them.

Some of our projects

ICT-AIDED SCHOOLS:

Educating the Unreachable

In the hard-to-reach river islands in northern Bangladesh, lack of access, roads and electricity create a situation in which educational institutions are extremely difficult to run. Schools are difficult to set up and it is hardly possible to find and maintain teachers in these areas. The challenge is therefore to bypass the geographical isolation and lack of qualified teachers by using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and out-of-the-box thinking that yield real results.

Amidst the bitter cold wave which has hit Bangladesh since the beginning of January this year, Friendship has distributed winter clothes donated by ORYX Bangladesh​ to approximately 500 households in Gaibandha who are badly vulnerable to the cruel winter spell. This year, Bangladesh records the lowest temperature in 5 decades.

To ensure sustainable development of the marginalized char communities emphasis should be given to change their living standard like the people of the mainland. With this key message Friendship's Good Governance sector organized a round-table discussion with the media representatives to exchange views and get recommendations to help thrust the socio-economic condition of the char people.

Friendship primary and secondary school students who appeared for the Primary Education Completion Exam( PECE) and Junior School Certificate Exam (JSC) last year have successfully passed with 100% success rate compared to the national success rate of 95% and 83% respectively.

The JSC examinee in particular,appeared for the first time after the commencement of secondary education in the chars under Friendship's #Education programme and passed with flying colors scoring a tremendous 65% GPA A and 34% GPA A- despite of the immense sufferings caused by devastating flood this year.

'We cannot stop floods, cyclones or emissions but we can address the solution in a way we can, with the resources that we have' - Kazi Amdadul Hoque, Director of Strategic Planning and Head of Disaster Management and Infrastructure Development (DMID) at the 4th Sub-Regional Workshop on Community Resilience to Climate Change in the Bay of Bengal-2017 on 17th December 2017.

Friendship hosted the 3rd session on 'Climate Induced Displacement & Rehabilitation' to provide the opportunity to multi-stakeholders for knowledge and experience sharing on issues related to Climate Change and to develop a common framework of action contributing to enhanced resilience of communities.

At the workshop,Friendship highlighted its experience with climate change issues while dealing with natural disasters and its innovative solution to rehabilitation: an oval shaped raised plinth which help break the flow of water during the floods.

The platform was established to share lessons and facilitate joint action on advocacy involving stakeholders in the countries around Bay of Bengal - Bangladesh, India, Nepal Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The previous three Sub-regional conferences was held in Bangladesh and India focusing on community resilience issues, challenges and recommendations.

Friendship's Strategic Planning Workshop for 2017 draws to a close in Gaibandha

A 2-day long Strategic Planning Workshop was held in Friendship Centre, Gaibandha.from the 9-10 December 2017 reviewing the annual activities of the year and planning Friendship's long term goals along with its strategic plan for the year 2018 to 2020.

The workshop was conducted by Kenneth Hay, Chairman of Friendship UK. Runa Khan Founder and Executive Director, Friendship, Marc Elvinger, Chairman, Friendship Luxembourg,leaders of all Sectors and Central Services and other members of Friendship International also participated in the workshop.

A 2-day livelihood training on "Cereal Crops and Oil Seed Production" was conducted in Fulchori upazilla by Friendship's Good Governance programme to strengthen the skills of the char farmers so that they can get better yields from Boro paddy, Aman paddy, wheat, maize, groundnut, mustard, sesame and linseed farming.

'Friendship believes that innovation for the sake of innovation does not mean anything. It believes that innovative solutions are needed at the right time, in the right amount and in the right way. This is how we developed an innovative healthcare model with hospital ships, satellite clinics and community medic-aids reaching out to 4.2 million people in Bangladesh." said Runa Khan, Executive Director and Founder of Friendship on healthcare ecosystem at the Asia Pacific MedTech Forum 2017 in Singapore.

Runa Khan also shared Friendship's journey in providing healthcare for the marginalised living in the remote and hard-to-reach areas in Bangladesh The event was held from 7-8 November 2017.This year's theme 'Transforming Healthcare through innovation' explored the impacts of technological advancement and innovation in transforming global healthcare landscape.

“Our experience in the field has shown that gaining the trust of the communities in which we operate is a key component of success. Trust can only be built up over time by providing consistent and reliable quality services and earning the respect of the people we work for. Friendship doesn’t work through short-term projects, but ensures its commitment to the communities on a long term basis.”

Runa Khan, Founder and Executive Director of Friendship Bangladesh

HELPING THE POOR IN REMOTE AREAS

Find out more about the charity Friendship and the impact it has on the lives of the poor in Bangladesh